What is your background why did you decide to do the SQE?

I originally began studying law in 2021 at Cardiff University. I decided I did want to work in the legal industry and began applying for training contracts while at university. I was fortunate enough to secure a training contract with Reed Smith in my third year of university. Upon graduating in 2024, I began studying for SQE 1 in September 2024. My firm funded my studies with the College of Legal Practice.

I sat SQE 1 in January 2025 and thankfully passed, I have recently sat my SQE 2 exams in May 2025 and I am now awaiting the results. Provided I pass SQE 2 and finish my elective modules with the College of Legal Practice, I will start my training contract in March 2026.

How did you prepare, and what made the biggest difference in your success?

I prepared through the College of Legal Practice’s SQE 1 preparation course. This involved reading the SQE 1 content through a manual, creating my own notes and flashcards, and then consolidating this knowledge by practicing single best multiple-choice questions.

The thing that made the biggest difference in my preparation was being able to talk to friends

about my learning. My preparation course was completely remote learning based, that meant I had no teaching in person. Being able to talk to my friends who were also studying for SQE 1 made a huge difference. Talking through concepts, discussing tough topics and

testing each other made my revision more varied and made a tough process more enjoyable.

What was the hardest part and how did you push through?

The hardest part of SQE1 was maintaining consistent, focused revision over such a long period of time. The sheer volume of content across multiple practice areas made it easy to feel overwhelmed. What helped me push through was creating a strict routine and sticking to it. I would go to my local library when revising, leave my phone at home, and bring lunch so I wouldn’t need to leave or get distracted. Treating it like a full-time job helped me stay disciplined.

I also scheduled time for breaks and sport, which helped me stay balanced. For example, I had rugby training every Wednesday evening and always kept that time free. Knowing I had designated downtime made the long days feel more manageable and gave me something to look forward to. This structure allowed me to stay consistent and build up momentum over time. Ultimately, it was this routine—balancing hard work with regular rest—that helped me stay focused and push through the most demanding aspects of SQE1 preparation.

If you had to do it again, what would you do differently?

If I had to do SQE1 again, I would start practicing multiple-choice questions earlier and integrate them more regularly into my revision. Initially, I focused heavily on reading and outlining the material, thinking I needed to fully understand the content before attempting questions. In hindsight, I realised that doing MCQs early on would have helped me identify weak areas much sooner and develop the exam technique that’s crucial for SQE1.

I’d also be more strategic with my revision schedule, prioritising areas that I struggled with earlier in the process, rather than giving all subjects equal time from the start. This would have allowed for more efficient use of my study time and helped build confidence in topics that I naturally needed to devote more attention to